Spinning-top



(N0 Model.)

T R AVIS. SPINNING TOP.

No. 505,969. Patented Oct. 3,1893.

uww mw/ Wm o UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MARION H. TRAVIS, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

SPINNING-TOP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,969, dated October 3, 1893.

Application filed May 23, 1893.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION H. TRAVIS, a citie zen of the United States, residing at Camden, in the county of Camden and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Spinning-Tops; and I do' hereby declare the'following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is an improvement in spinning tops and consists in the novel features hereinafter fully described reference being had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention, and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

Referring to the said drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved top. Fig. 2 represents a vertical central section through the same on line :rw Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the parts of the top in detail.

The body of my'improved top is made in several parts or sections. I prefer to form the top in two sections A A or parts as shown in the drawings, and I provide suitable means for securing the parts together so as to render the top operative. To this end I prefer to provide one part (A as shown) with the plug, or spinning, point B which has formed integrally therewith a cup-shaped annular flange b in which the tapered portion of the section A fits snugly. The point or plug will be secured in place by a pin or screw 1) as shown which passes through the shank of the plug. The tapered end of the section A engages the cup shaped flange b of the plug and is held therein while the upper ends of the sections A and A are secured together by a spring catch. In the drawings I have shown the section A provided with a spring arm or catch at having a hook or projection a at one end to engage one edge of a plate a secured to the upper part of the sectionA the sections A A being each provided with a recess be neath the spring catch as shown in Fig. 2 to permit it to be depressed so as to disengage the plate a The section A is also shown provided with a plate a located so as to lie beside the plate a when the parts of the top Serial No. 475,248. (No model.)

are secured together and each of said plates is provided with a semi-circular or other shaped recess, which coincides with the recess of the 'otherplate and forms an aperture at directly above the spring catch a as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In order to prevent the parts A A from moving laterally when they are coupled together I provide one of the sections with pins or projections a a (see Fig. 3) for engaging suitable apertures a in the other section. I also provide one of said sections, preferably the section A with a spring 0 of any preferred form, (a spiral spring being shown) which tends to force the two sections apart when they are uncoupled by depressing the spring catch a. I also provide one of the sections (or both) with a central recess, A as shown in Figs. 2 and-3 for the reception of a counter or disk D of some suitable material, preferably metal, as aluminum. This counter occupies the recess A when the parts of the top are coupled together.

When the parts of the top are united as above described it may be spun like any ordinary top. If it is struck, while spinning, by another top, in such a manner that the plug of the latter enters the aperture 0. between the plates (1 a and depresses the spring catch, the parts of the top will be forced apart by the spring 0 and the counter D will drop out of its recess; Another counter, or the same, may be placed in the top and the parts again closed and spun. The top may be used either with or without the counter or counters D, as preferred.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction herein shown and described as slight variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A top having its body composed of separable sections and provided with retaining devices for detachably securing said sections together, said retaining devices having a part located .in position to be struck by another top to release said retaining devices, substantially as described.

2. Atop composed of separable sections and devices for coupling said parts together including a spring catch, substantially as described.

3. A top having its body composed of separable sections, provided with an interior recess, a counter located in said recess and retaining devices for detachably securing said sections together, said retaining devices having a part located in position to be struck by another top to release said retaining devices, substantially as described.

4. Atop composed of separable sections, devices including a spring catch for detachably securing said sections together, and a spring interposed between said sections, substantially as described.

5. A top composed of separable sections, and one of said sections being provided with a flange to receive a portion of the other section and a spring catch for coupling other portions of said sections together, substantially as described.

'6. A top composed of separable sections, provided with an interior recess for the reception of a removable counter, devices for coupling said sections together including a spring lever located on the upper part of the top in position to be struck and released by the plug of another top, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARION H. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

H. E. GARSED, LIzzIE ELLIS. 

